A photo issued by People Magazine of the Amber Heard appearing to have a bruised eye and cut lip which she claims were the result of Johnny Depp's abuse. Picture by People/Press Association

JOHNNY Depp and Amber Heard have settled their acrimonious divorce case after he agreed to pay her nearly $8 million (£6.1m), sources said.

Lawyers for the actress have also filed to dismiss a temporary restraining order against Depp following allegations of physical abuse, just a day before a high-profile court hearing was due to take place in Los Angeles.

The former Hollywood couple issued a joint statement confirming they had "agreed to resolve their divorce proceeding privately".

They said: "Our relationship was intensely passionate and at times volatile, but always bound by love. Neither party has made false accusations for financial gain.

"There was never any intent of physical or emotional harm."

The statement added: "Amber wishes the best for Johnny in the future. Amber will be donating financial proceeds from the divorce to a charity."

Depp agreed to pay Heard "just shy" of eight million dollars in the divorce settlement including legal fees, according to a source.

The deal was struck after a graphic photo emerged in court documents of a finger injury suffered by Depp when he allegedly cut off the tip by accident during a fit of rage, the source added.

Heard filed for divorce from the Pirates of the Caribbean actor in May, citing irreconcilable differences.

In court papers, the 30-year-old actress said Depp had a "history of drug and alcohol abuse" and been "verbally and physically abusive" for the entirety of their four-year-relationship.

She submitted photographs appearing to show her bruised face, which she said was a result of Depp throwing a mobile phone at her.

A judge granted a temporary restraining order and ruled that Depp, 53, must stay at least 100 yards away from his estranged wife.

In the court papers filed in May, Heard wrote: "I endured excessive emotional, verbal and physical abuse from Johnny, which has included angry, hostile, humiliating and threatening assaults to me whenever I questioned his authority or disagreed with him.

"He is often paranoid and his temper is exceptionally scary for me as it has proven many times to be physically dangerous and/or life threatening to me. I live in fear that Johnny will return ... unannounced to terrorise me, physically and emotionally."

Heard added that in one incident in December 2015 she "truly feared for her life".

Court papers obtained by TMZ also alleged Depp dipped his butchered finger in blue paint and wrote "Starring Billy Bob Easy Amber" on a mirror during an incident in March 2015, a month after their wedding.

The writing referred to actor Billy Bob Thornton, according to Heard, who was her co-star in The Informers and London Fields and with whom Depp believed she was having an affair.

Depp vehemently denied the abuse allegations and his lawyer, Laura Wasser, said in court documents in May that Heard was "attempting to secure a premature financial resolution by alleging abuse".

A spokeswoman for Los Angeles Superior Court confirmed the dismissal of the temporary restraining order against Depp had been filed. A hearing which was due to take place at the court on Wednesday had been cancelled, the spokeswoman added.

Depp and Heard, who have no children together, married in February last year after meeting on the set of 2011 film The Rum Diary.

The pair were caught up in controversy last year after Heard illegally smuggled Depp's pet dogs, Boo and Pistol, into Australia while he was filming the next Pirates Of The Caribbean movie. They recorded a 40-second apology as part of a deal with prosecutors which allowed Heard to avoid a conviction.

Depp was previously married to make-up artist Lori Anne Allison, and has a daughter, model Lily-Rose Depp, and son, Jack, with former partner Vanessa Paradis.